Gnat Killa

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Dear Mavens of Fabulosity,

Our family went on a 3 week vacation only to come home to flock of little tiny gnats in the kitchen. The sink was clean, dishwasher clean and empty, but alas they were there and from where, I don’t know. I cleaned the sink again with Clorox.

We don’t have a disposal, so that was not the culprit, and the garbage was empty. I’m still not sure where they came from. We did the ole’ bait and spray to get ride of them. Placed a bit of ripe banana on a paper plate on the counter and when they came to rest on the banana we fumigated them. We got rid of them all, for about 2 weeks, and now they are back with a vengeance. Suggestions on how to rid my (mainly kitchen) of the little menaces? Thanks!

Signed,

“Gnat” more flies!

Wink Ivy says:

Oooh, I’ve had the same issue before, it sure is annoying. Putting gnat heads on tiny little stakes doesn’t work. I’ve never found stakes small enough for a gnat’s head, that’s part of the problem.

The first thing you need to do is find out where they are coming in from. Check to make sure you don’t have any windows open, then make sure there are no cracks or other ways they could possibly be getting in. If you find nothing, they may be living in your plants. Otherwise, try putting all your fruit except bananas in the refrigerator. Keep bananas in a covered bowl.

There are a couple of ways to kill them. Heather leaves a sink filled with soapy water every night, during gnat season. The gnats are attracted to the soapy water and will drown themselves in there.

I like to leave a bowl of white vinegar out half-covered with plastic wrap. I change out the vinegar every couple of days. Eventually all the gnats should die. Just make sure you keep places they can come inside closed, otherwise they will keep reinfesting.

Send your questions to helpme@home-ec101.com.

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8 thoughts on “Gnat Killa”

  1. I’ve had this problem a few times, and it has always turned out to be rotten potatoes or onions that I’ve left in a cabinet and forgotten about. Nasty.

    Reply
    • I stumbled upon this issue last week LOL I never use as many potatoes or onions as I think I will, and they always end up going bad.

      Reply
  2. I did have those… in the pantry! BUT I rid my pantry of those the day after we got back from vacation. I swear I think they are breeding!

    Reply
  3. Do you literally mean gnats, or is it fruit flies? I seem to get fruit flies every summer with all the pretty fresh fruit sitting out on the counter. I learned to make a trap by taking a jar, putting something vinegary or fruity in the bottom, and either punching some small holes in the lid or else putting a paper cone, point with a small hole down in the jar, to catch them. The dumb things can’t figure how to get back out. Also, I’ve found cantaloupes are the WORST for attracting fruit flies, so I only buy ripe ones and put them straight in the fridge.

    Reply
  4. So I have just encountered this problem. Even as we speak I see a gnat flying in front of me trying to piss me off. So about 2 weeks ago I noties a Gnat….then the next day a couple Gnats. And then a swarm. I took all my plants outside and looked in every crack for a rotten banana….to no avail nothing. Than two days ago I found a bag of potatoes that have been hiddin way back in my pantry. That was the culprit but I still have some. I have clean with Bleach, vinger and now I will try soap water. They are so annoying.

    Just wanted to share my frustration and happiness that I have found info on how to kill the little buggers.

    ~dee

    Reply
  5. put 80% water & 20% liquid bleach into a empty spray bottle. Took out potatoes & onions that were rotten. careful about leaving any uncovered drinks, trash, food out. after 2 days they are almost gone.

    Reply
  6. Put your potatoes and onions in the refrigerator. Bananas are the worst so wash them off with water as soon as you bring them home.  To get rid of the pesky things, I use a very small cup of vinegar (i keep a small cough medicine cup just for this). Fill it with vinegar and by the next morning you’ll have several that have died in the vinegar. Change out the vinegar every few days.

    Reply

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